"The BBC is under threat again. The minister in charge, Jeremy Hunt, said next year he planned to have "tough discussions" with the BBC, and force them to change "a huge number of things".

"By making these threats now, the government is dipping its toe in the water. The Conservatives don't like the BBC and are strongly influenced by Rupert Murdoch, who wants to see it cut. But they know that the BBC has popular support. They'll be watching the public reaction this week to judge how much BBC-bashing they can get away with."

In response, the Twittersphere is alive with compliments to the corporation and attacks on Murdoch.